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DRAFT MEETING SUMMARY AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION BOARD May 19, 2004 PRESENT: Tony Kleese, Don Johnson, Marty Mandell, Elizabeth Walters, Gordon Warren, Noah Ranells; Environment & Resource Conservation Director David Stancil and staff Tina Moon and Carol Melton. ABSENT: Bob Strayhorn, Louise Tate, Whit Morrow and Rodney Recor. ITEM #1: CALL TO ORDER Kleese called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. ITEM #2: CONSIDERATION OF ADDITIONS TO AGENDA ITEM #3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES April 21, 2004 MOTION: Gordon motioned approval of April 21 th minutes. Seconded by Ranells. VOTE: Approved unanimously. ITEM #4: ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION a. Voluntary Agricultural Districts Conference Moon reported attending the conference in Louisburg, with Carol Melton, and shared information from Andrew Brannon of the NC Farm Transition Network a program housed by Farm Bureau organization to promote a transition network for farmers in areas relevant to transitioning from one generation to the next, along with other items on the agenda. b. Update on Proposed Agricultural Conservation Easements and USDA Grant Application Earlier this month Orange County in collaboration with the Orange NRCS /Soil and Water Conservation District applied for $846,000 in federal grant funds from the USDA Farm and Ranch Land Preservation program (FRPP). These funds are available to local governments and land trusts to acquire conservation easements that protect prime agricultural lands. This is the third year funds have been available from the FRPP. In 2002, Orange County was awarded $784,000 of the $2.1 million allocated to N.C. Those funds are being used to protect about 400 acres of farmland in Bingham, Cheeks, and Cedar Grove townships. This year, Orange County has requested $846,000 of the $2.3 million available in N.C. The application was prepared by ERCD in cooperation with the Orange NRCS /Soil & Water Conservation District staff. DRAFT May 19, 2004 Agricultural Preservation Board Meeting Summary